The Dodgers beat the Rays after a pinch-hit blast by Miguel Rojas

Miguel Rojas gave the Dodgers a late lead on Monday night.

And this time, their bull was not wasted.

In a 4-3 victory over the Rays at Dodger Stadium, the team overcame a three-run deficit early on Kyle Tucker’s home run, took their first lead of the night with Rojas’ leadoff, pinch-hit blast to left field in the seventh, then hung on after three scoreless innings from their previous bullpen opener this month with a bullpen win back in the series. a six-game homestand.

Rojas’ home run was the difference, as the veteran took Rays left-hander Steven Matz deep with a swing that was — aesthetically, at least — reminiscent of his heroic Game 7 homer in last year’s World Series.

But the bullpen gave the most encouraging signs.

Entering Monday, the pitcher had a 7.51 ERA this month, good for the worst mark in the majors in June.

But after a six-inning, three-run start from Eric Lauer helped by the Dodger defense, the club got scoreless frames from Kyle Hurt in the seventh (who worked around two), Will Klein and Alex Vesia (who threw a runner out at third in the eighth) and Tanner Scott (who pitched in the ninth).

What does it mean

After dropping two of three to the White Sox to end their latest road trip, the Dodgers (46-27) returned to the win column Monday to improve to 8-6 in June and 22-9 since May 13.

They also got a leg up in the series over the Rays (41-28), who have cooled off from a hot May and dropped to second place in the American League East.

In the National League West, the Dodgers moved back to eight games up on the San Diego Padres.

Who is hot

Apparently, Dodgers fans are lukewarm on Tucker –– evidenced by him receiving half of Andy Pages’ All-Star votes, and 100,000 less than the injured Teoscar Hernández.

On Monday, however, he finally showed the all-around skill set that earned the Dodgers a $240 million contract.

First, he erased a 3-0 deficit with a three-run home run in the bottom of the second, his second home run at Dodger Stadium this year.

Then, in the third, he prevented the Dodgers from making a comeback, cutting off a runner at home plate with a perfect throw from right field to preserve a 3-3 tie and end the inning.

Overall, Tucker went 2-for-4 –– however, with a crucial hit in the sixth with a few runners on base, and a flyout in the eighth with a runner on second –– and is now hitting .239 on the season with a .725 OPS.

Who is not

The luck of the ball hit by radiation.

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Although Tampa Bay scored just seven runs on Monday, their ability to put the ball in play was ignored by the Dodgers’ strong defense.

Helping Tucker on the field was the biggest moment. But there were also key double plays in the bottom of Lauer’s first in the sixth (helping him complete a quality start that gave him a 3.22 ERA in four starts with the Dodgers) and a couple of fifteen runs from Max Muncy at third and Mookie Betts at shortstop, including a grounder Betts lined to lead off the ninth as he sent him to right.

Next

The Dodgers and Rays continue the series Tuesday night, when Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.95 ERA) will pitch on four days’ rest against Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen (6-2, 2.71 ERA).